Members of the Genealogy Club visit the Denton County Courthouse.
David M. Randall
After an abbreviated summer schedule, the Robson Ranch Genealogy Club is gearing up for a busy fall filled with new discoveries, practical learning, and a little fun along the way.
The major highlight of our summer calendar was a group excursion to the America 250 exhibit at the Denton County Courthouse, sponsored by the Flower Mound Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The fascinating display left many of our members eager to learn more about their own ancestors who lived during the Revolutionary War era.
In late August, genealogist Diane L. Richard welcomed us back to the classroom with a presentation on Freedmen’s Bureau records, an invaluable resource for anyone researching families in the post-Civil War South. Diane returned Sept. 1 with a program demonstrating how photographs can become valuable tools in genealogical research. On Sept. 7, our own Terry Babcock followed with an informative DNA workshop.
And there is plenty more ahead.
On Sept. 15, Denise May Levenick, author of How to Archive Family Keepsakes, will present Caring for Keepsakes, offering practical advice for preserving photographs, documents, heirlooms, and other family treasures. This will be followed on Oct. 6 by our first-ever Robson Ranch Roadshow! Members will share their favorite family heirlooms, and our panel will try to shed additional light on each treasure, including what clues it might provide about the people, places, and stories in the owner’s family history. It promises to be both a fun and educational evening.
Our fall workshop programming begins Oct. 5, when David Randall introduces his self-developed fast-track methodology for getting your genealogy project started, or restarted. Designed to produce quick results, build momentum, and generate early discoveries, David’s step-by-step roadmap sets aside some traditional approaches in favor of a modernized strategy that takes advantage of today’s powerful new tools. Members will learn how to quickly establish their family trees, expand their research, and begin turning discoveries into family stories in ways that were never before possible. Whether you are a first-timer or an old-timer, David will soon have you looking at the research process in an entirely new light. David will lead our Nov. 9 workshop where we’ll discuss often-overlooked, non-genealogical resources that can further help bring our family stories to life.
The Robson Ranch Genealogy Club welcomes everyone from absolute beginners to experienced family historians. Regular presentations are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. in Room 104 of the Creative Arts and Technology Center. Help sessions and workshops are usually held on the second Monday of the month at 2 p.m. Annual dues are $20 per individual or $30 per household. Prospective members are always welcome to attend a free meeting before joining.